Author(s)

Vincent Ezikornwor Weli^1*, Jimmy O. Adegoke², Meelubari Barinua Kpang²

¹Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
²Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA.

This study investigated the spatial occurrence of cardiovascular diseases associated with the air quality of selected abattoirs in Port Harcourt. Using the simple random sampling technique, the Trans-Amadi, Rumuokoro, Rukpokwu and Elelenwo abattoirs were selected and used for the study. However, both gases and particulates matter which include NO₂, SO₂, H₂S, CH₄, CO, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ were collected at distances of 0, 20, 50, 100, 200 m with the aid of a hand held multi-gas monitor. The questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, duration of job in years, as well as individual frequency of hospital visitation based on symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. The electrocardiogram was employed to diagnose manifestations of ischemic heart disease among the workers especially in the roasting section. Analysis of data collected was done using the Step-wise multiple regression technique. Result showed that occurrence of cardiovascular diseases is a function of pollutant concentration (CO - r = 0.57) at Rumuokoro abattoir; (O₃ - r = 0.40, SO₂ - r = 0.23, CO - r = 0.14) at Rukpokwu abattoir, duration of exposure (DOE - r = 0.22) at Rumuokoro abattoir, (DOE ? r = 0.40) at Trans-Amadi abattoir; and (DOE - r = 0.20) at Elelenwo abattoir; age of worker (r = 0.06) at Rukpokwu abattoir, (r = 0.30) at Elenlewo abattoir and daily duration on the job (JOBD - r = 0.13) at Elelenwo abattoir. Findings indicate that there is a positive correlation between occurrence of vascular diseases and pollutant concentration, duration of exposure, age and duration on the job but varies from location to location. Periodic epidemiological and air quality assessment of workers at the abattoirs are strongly advocated.

Abattoir, Cardiovascular Diseases, Air Quality, Pollutant Concentration, Duration of Exposure

Weli, V. , Adegoke, J. and Kpang, M. (2016) The Epidemiology of Cardio-Vascular Diseases in Relation to the Air Quality of Abattoirs in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 6, 94-107. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2016.64011.